Starting from February 1, police officers began checking old cars on the roads of the country. If a vehicle was manufactured before 1976, it will be immediately stopped, and the license plate will be confiscated. Owners of such cars will have to either tow them home or take them to a scrap metal collection point.
According to the new rules, the movement of cars manufactured before 1976 on the roads is prohibited, which is due to the need to improve road safety,” explained an inspection officer.
According to information, the government believes that old cars are a cause of high accident rates. There are about 5.2 million registered vehicles in Uzbekistan, of which 88,000 are over 50 years old.
Blogger and journalist Bobomurod Abdulla noted that over the past two years, there have been only 67 accidents involving half-century-old cars, while more recent vehicles have been involved in over 18,500 accidents.
“67 accidents out of 18,600 is less than 0.4 percent. 32 percent of incidents are related to Damas vehicles produced by GM Uzbekistan. If the reason for the ban is accidents, it would make sense to ban these cars first. But instead, old cars are becoming the victims,” emphasizes Abdulla.
The ban, according to experts, primarily affects low-income citizens who cannot afford new or even used cars. There are also owners of modified old Volgas that are used for cargo transportation.
“These cars are very durable and suitable for mini logistics. I believe the ban was enacted to promote the sale of Chinese mini trucks, which are not very popular here. Perhaps this decision is being lobbied by those involved in their import,” adds Abdulla.
The main argument of the government in favor of the ban is that old cars do not meet environmental standards. However, official documents do not specify how owners should dispose of their Soviet-era vehicles, leaving this responsibility to their discretion.
